Fire at Sidegate Primary School extinguished after roof blaze
Emergency services respond to Ipswich school incident; pupils safely evacuated and roads reopened
A fire at Sidegate Primary School in Ipswich has now been extinguished, with crews continuing to check for remaining hotspots following a blaze that took hold in the roof of a school building earlier today.
Emergency services were called at 12:28pm after a member of staff reported a smell of smoke, although the source was initially unclear. School staff immediately evacuated the entire site, and it has since been confirmed that no one remained inside the building.
Fire crews from Princes Street, Ipswich East, Haverhill, and Needham Market were mobilised to the scene, along with four standard fire appliances, a rescue tender equipped with enhanced capabilities, and an aerial ladder platform.
The fire was later confirmed to have affected the roof of the Early Years building.
Police also attended the scene to implement a road closure, and members of the public were advised to avoid the area while emergency operations were underway.
Sidegate Lane was temporarily closed but has now reopened.
By 1:34pm, fire officials confirmed the blaze was believed to be extinguished, with crews carrying out final safety checks and hotspot monitoring.
All pupils have since been collected by parents or, where permitted, allowed to walk home independently. No injuries have been reported.